Without a quorum, the board took no votes; Chair Jay Boatwright appointed a committee to nominate 2027 officers. Staff reported no basin-wide undesirable results, though some West Placer wells fell below minimum groundwater thresholds. Staff plans to seek GSP adoption in December. Five-year basin-wide implementation costs are estimated at $1.8 million, up from $1.1 million. Members discussed but did not approve a proposed $40,000-a-year communications program.
Staff said the GSP update is on track for public release around August 20, 2026 and board adoption in December 2026, with updates to sustainable management criteria, monitoring, and interconnected surface water analysis. The Sacramento Regional Water Bank CEQA work is advancing and could help reduce stream flow depletion factor impacts on transfers. The board approved sending revised JPA language to the four signatory agencies for their approval.
Groundwater levels are at or near all-time highs across the basin, with elevations above minimum thresholds. Staff presented a new Water Accounting System showing ~519,000 acre-feet of total banked water—approximately 470,000 acre-feet previously banked plus ~48,700 acre-feet net banked in water year 2025 (North and South American sub-basins combined)—and a planned public dashboard. Staff will meet with DWR and Reclamation to seek reduced 25% stream depletion factor assumptions for transfers.
Groundwater storage has increased by about 600,000 acre-feet since 1990, with fall 2025 levels at or near historic highs at most monitoring sites. An RWA watershed resilience study projects about 80% snowpack loss by century's end and ag demand rising from 1.3 to 1.8 million acre-feet. Staff reported major upgrades to the CoSANA model and a 2026 GSP update priority.
Board reviewed its 5-year Groundwater Sustainability Plan update, which revises minimum thresholds based on actual domestic well depths and ecosystem needs rather than historical drought levels, resulting in an average 9-foot threshold adjustment across monitoring wells. The long-awaited Sacramento Regional Water Bank Project secured almost $700,000 in federal funding to complete environmental analysis without additional local costs.
